Fire outside Wrigley, N.W.T., moves closer to community

The wildfire that forced the evacuation of Wrigley, N.W.T., moved closer to the community overnight into Sunday. It is now seven kilometres from town. 

Residents of Wrigley had to leave on June 29, because of a fire to the north. On Saturday, as the fire crossed protective lines, the remaining essential workers were forced to flee, joining evacuees who have fled to Fort Smith. 

Jamie Moses, chief of the Pehdzéh Kı̨ First Nation in Wrigley, is one of the very few who still remain in the community. 

“We’re feeling fine, but it’s just, we’re still worried about the fire. It’s just the conditions, right? It’s hot and sunny and the north winds are just gusting,” he said. 

He said the remaining evacuees have started to arrive in Fort Smith, after the 10-hour drive. Some, especially elders, have stopped in Hay River to rest before continuing on. 

In a social media post earlier on Sunday, Moses stated that fire retardant had been dropped, with “backburns,” or controlled ignitions, planned for Monday when conditions are more favourable. 

Still, as the community of Fort Simpson, which was also evacuated around the same time as Wrigley, returns home this weekend, frustrations are growing. 

“We need to keep in mind there are fires all over the N.W.T. and Canada,” Moses wrote on Facebook. “But every day we were told crews and helicopters are all in Fort Simpson either stuck on the south side or are now busy. But the fact is the fire remains out of control moving towards town.”

The fire has continued to grow, this time on the eastern flank, according to N.W.T. Fire. In a bulletin released by N.W.T. Fire on Saturday, fire officials confirmed hot, dry conditions are expected to remain on Sunday and overnight. There is a slight chance of an isolated shower or thunderstorm overnight, but with winds pushing from the north gusting to 50 kilometres an hour, fire activity is expected to increase. 

But fire information officer Thomas Bentham says at this time, officials do not expect the fire to reach the community. 

“We are doing everything we can in terms of protection of the community,” he said. Crews have continued to remove fuels, creating blacklines to protect the community and stop the spread. 

“If a fire does reach the community’s perimeter, we have enough area there to help protect it,” he said. 

The situation is evolving, however, and as shown on Saturday, conditions can change quickly. A high volume suppression system is on its way from Alberta as a precaution. It will be installed at the north end of the community, and join other heavy equipment that continues to clear brush and trees, strengthening the community’s fuel break. 

“Hopefully they get here tomorrow,” said Moses. He says individual houses already have sprinkler systems set up, but the Alberta system will add to the fire guard. 

“It’ll shoot water like 100 feet. So we’ll be able to soak down the ground and everything,” said Moses. 

He said the concern isn’t just the fire reaching the community, but embers and other burning debris drifting in on the wind and igniting spot fires. He says crews continue to focus on fire smarting vulnerable areas of the community. 

And while he says they hope it doesn’t happen, the remaining personnel are preparing in case they have to leave too. 

“We just don’t know right now,” he said. “It’s just something we just hope doesn’t happen. But like I said, we have to be absolutely prepared for it.”

That includes making arrangements for the dogs that were left behind in the community. Three volunteers had been making sure they had food and water, but they had to leave on Saturday. 

“We know exactly where the big groups of dogs are. So we’ll be throwing a whole bunch of dog food and water there,” said Moses. “I already got my nephew to get some pails of water and we’ll start putting them in certain locations, start making sure they’re all filled in case we have to leave too.” 

The N.W.T. SPCA has also put out a call for additional donations to support the Wrigley dogs. 

Bentham said at this time fire crews are not planning to leave. 

“They are all there until the bitter end,” said Bentham. “And they’re going to be there to help control the situation and protect the community.”